Health programs are designed to improve the health of a community. This may be accomplished through a variety of measures including education, prevention, care and restoration. They can be national, regional or municipal in scope. Programs may also be targeted at specific disease conditions such as tuberculosis, malaria or HIV infection. Health programs are based on evidence-based practices and are designed with scalability in mind. Scalability refers to the ability of a particular program to reach a large number of individuals quickly and efficiently with at least a minimum level of care. The development of a technical package that includes proven interventions and the assessment of the potential impact of this package on an identified risk factor or disease outcome is essential for effective scalability.
Some of the most common types of health programs include those aimed at improving healthy eating habits, promoting fitness and addressing mental health issues. Others address health problems that are not infectious in nature. For example, a mental health program might focus on providing treatment for drug or alcohol addiction. In addition, there are comprehensive school health programs that provide health promotion and disease prevention as well as access to health care at the school site.
Often, the success of a public health program depends on educating and empowering communities to take action. This can be done through traditional means such as publications and medical association guidance, or through newer communication channels such as social media and electronic outreach systems. It is important to understand that different audiences need to receive information in a way that best resonates with them. For example, a patient group might need to see a personal face to connect with abstract data regarding the impact of a disease or a treatment program.
The guiding principles of many public health programs are based on the belief that improved individual behavior can result in significant and sustainable improvement in population health outcomes. The challenge is to translate this theory into reality. This can be difficult given that there are multiple barriers to implementation, including financial and human resources, institutional capacity, health care system quality, organizational culture, behavioral change and political environment.
In healthcare settings, health educators perform and/or coordinate counseling as well as educational services; develop activities and incentives to promote use of clinical services by high risk patients; conduct staff training and consult with other health care providers about behavioral, cultural or social barriers to patient participation in clinical processes; design and implement programs about weight control, hypertension, nutrition, physical fitness, smoking cessation and stress management. Health educators also help companies meet occupational health and safety regulations, and they write grants to raise money for these projects.
A health science degree focuses on research of biological diseases at the cellular level, but it also prepares graduates for practical healthcare applications and policy work. These skills are needed to make a real difference in the world. Whether through a graduate certificate or a master’s degree in the field, the future looks promising for those interested in working with a team of people to improve the health and wellbeing of the world’s population.